CLAYTON
Pro Buff Cloth
£5.99
Both my acoustic and electric guitars are completely black, and while that does make me look tremendously cool, they attract dust in such a way that, to any onlooker, I appear to be a perpetually lapsed student. Anything that can help prevent that is a must for me.
This cloth feels soft to the touch and is big enough that you can pass it over the bulk of the guitar quickly and easily. It fits nicely underneath the strings and picked up most of the dust on the first pass – I was able to shake off most of it over the bin this time but a nice feature is that it's 100 per cent cotton and machine washable with the rest of your whites. The stitched sides mean that it won't come frayed over time – a nice investment even at this low price. Simple, but effective, and something well worth having in all your cases.
Cork Grip Standard .50mm (6 Pack)
£5.99
The cork grip on this interesting-looking plectrum is stuck on to one side of the pick in a raised ring. As a result, I found it a bit difficult to use: the cork means that you can only hold it one way round – it could be useful for younger beginners until they develop better dexterity. The grip also adds weight to a low-gauge plectrum, which takes some getting used to. The glue used seemed very strong and I was impressed by how firm it felt – the grip is not going to come away easily, even in the hands of the most fidgety of students.
Frost-Byte Nylon Standard .56mm (12 Pack)
£6.99
The grip on these picks comes in the form of textured plastic: ideal for sweaty fingers. The cool blue clear plastic is a nice look and very stylish – it does makes them look delicate and flimsy but they are far from it, performing well during a range of tricky quick songs.
Hexpick Duraplax Standard .60mm (12 Pack)
£3.99
Of the picks reviewed here, these were my favourite. A small hexagon is cut from the middle of the plectrum and what seemed like a novel aesthetic change actually made a big difference – being able to close the circle by touching finger and thumb really improved my grip and I noticed the difference when doing picking exercises and hard strumming patterns. I would highly recommend having a few of these to hand for players of any level.
These picks also have a slightly larger area than your average pick, which I like, but I know that it's something worth considering.
The only drawback that I could find is the lack of aesthetic options. As far as I can tell, each gauge only comes in one colour so if you don't like the colour for the gauge you're after, there's nothing that you can do. A small quibble with an otherwise useful tool.
HERCULES
Single Guitar Stand GS414B Plus
£39.99
This is a very sophisticated piece of kit that performs reliably, as I've come to expect from Hercules. This stand has little sleeves – what Hercules calls NINA or Narrow Instrument Neck Adjustment – that slot onto the arms of the stand to allow it to maintain a tight grip on instruments with a narrower neck. I found them useful and they neatly wrap around the neck of the stand – it doesn't seem that this is highlighted anywhere as I was initially disappointed at the lack of somewhere to put them when they weren't in use to prevent loss.
In addition to this, the arms have also been fitted with something called an Auto Grip System (AGS), which basically means there are a pair of pincers that revolve to hold the neck in place when you put the guitar down. It has quite a neat motion that lends an air of sophistication to the simple act of putting your instrument down. There's no cradle here – instead the bottom of your instrument rests on the front two legs of the stand, which are nicely padded.
The neck extends freely with a simple grip-release button, with a wide variety of height options. Packing it away is incredibly simple, as is making quick adjustments if you're moving instruments around. While not compact, it does fold up relatively small and is light enough to transport for gigging musicians.
As with many of the Hercules stands, parts of it are coloured in their striking trademark yellow – I'm not sure if it's the intended design but its eye-catching nature makes it ideal for a busy music room, hard-to-miss and easy to avoid a nasty accident. It walks a nice line between industrial and elegant and does its job well.
Guitar Hanger GSP38WB Plus
£14.99
This is another of Hercules’ wall-hanging stands, which also makes use of the NINA and AGS – here though there is nowhere to put the sleeves. I must admit that I was a little apprehensive when I tested it out but I was more than happy with the result. It held my heavier guitar firmly without worry and, after several days I saw no sagging or wear on the wall or the hanger. It gives a nice professional look and it's remarkably affordable – great for any space-conscious music department.
KINSMAN
Ultima Dreadnought Guitar Case
£59.99
The first thing you'll notice as you take it out of the box is the weight – it's remarkably heavy. Opening it up felt like heaving open a treasure chest but when I'm carrying my guitar around, such measures definitely put me at ease during my travels. After that, I noticed the colour – an earthy brown. Initially, I wasn't a fan but as it hung around, it grew on me. It's quite a solid, reassuring shade.
The shoulder straps fit comfortably and the rigidity of the case had the useful side effect of improving my posture, which made it easier to carry and put less strain on my back and shoulders. I can't recommend it for younger musicians due to its bulk but, for teachers and older students it's a must have.
Many thanks to the suppliers who provided these items for review:
- JHS: Clayton and Kinsman accessories
- Strings and Things: Hercules stands
